Equitas’s Social & Financial Empowerment of women with Disabilities named as anInnovative Policy/Practice 2017 on Self-Employment by Zero Project
Chennai, February 24, 2017: Social & Financial Empowerment of women with Disabilities by Equitas has been awarded as an Innovative Policy/Practice 2017 on Employment, Work and Vocational Education and Training. On behalf of Equitas, John Alex, Program Director-Equitas Development Initiatives Trust received the award yesterday at the ceremony held in the United Nations Office in Vienna.
Equitas Development Initiatives Trust (EDIT) firmly believes that disability is just in the mind and there is no hurdle you can cross till you want to really achieve something. Equitas while forming women’s group consciously focuses on disabled women for inclusive growth.
The Zero Project, an initiative of the Essl Foundation, focuses on the rights of persons with disabilities globally. It provides a platform where the most innovative and effective solutions to problems that persons with disabilities face, are shared. Its sole objective is to assist in creating a world without barriers.
The Zero Project Conference 2017 this year focused on Employment, Work, and Vocational Education and Training. The conference was attended by more 500 experts from more than 70 countries, discussing innovative solutions – Innovative Practices and Policies – that support employment, decent work and meaningful vocational education and training.
The Award for Social & Financial Empowerment of women with Disabilities is based on a selection process organized by the Zero Project, based on the criteria of innovation, impact and scalability that involved more than 1,000 experts with and without disabilities from all over the world. 56 Innovative Practices and 11 Innovative Policies were finally selected this year.
About Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited [ESFBL]
Equitas Small Finance Bank Limited is a Small Finance Bank (SFB), licensed by Reserve Bank of India under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to carry on the business of Small Finance Bank. The Bank has commenced the business of SFB on September 5, 2016. It is the first Private Sector Bank from Tamil Nadu to commence operations post Indian Independence.
ESFBL was formed by the Merger of two wholly owned subsidiaries of EHL viz., Equitas Micro Finance Limited [EMFL] and Equitas Housing Finance Limited [EHFL] with Equitas Finance Limited [EFL].
ESFBL, with pan India operations, is focused on providing financing solutions for individuals and micro and small enterprises (MSEs) that are underserved by formal financing channels while providing a comprehensive banking and digital platform for all.
True to its tag line – “Its Fun Banking”, the bank offers customized savings products with a focus towards giving children, youth, families and entrepreneurs across India, a new and a fun way to bank.
By Q1FY18, ESFBL plans to roll out the entire network of 412 bank branches spread across 13 States in India. Of these 412 branches, 50% will be in South, 30% in West and the remaining 20% in North. About 25 per cent of the bank branches will be located in rural, unbanked villages. Currently, the bank has an AUM of around Rs.7,181 Cr, of which about 49% is contributed by Micro Finance, 26% by Used Commercial Vehicle Finance and the remaining 24% by MSE and affordable Housing Finance.